244 WINTERING 
raised to provide for upward ventilation. About eighteen inches 
of straw is placed over the hives and this in turn is covered with 
a layer of loose earth. Not over two layers of hives should be 
placed in such a trench. There are only a comparatively few 
locations where this 
method is suited to the 
conditions, as a well- 
drained situation and 
porous soil are essen- 
tial. Bees pitted in 
this manner are liable 
to be disturbed by 
skunks or other burrow- 
ing animals and seri-. 
ous loss to result. 
There is danger of loss 
also if thev be buried 
either too deep or not 
deep enough. While 
the method may do 
as a makeshift under 
temporary conditions it 
is not to be generally 
recommended. 
Packing on 
Summer Stands.— 
Another method suit- 
able for southerly 
latitudes where only 
slight winter protection is needed is packing on the summer 
stands. The illustration (Fig. 111) shows an apiary in southern 
Towa. In this case a tight board fence about thirty inches high is 
used as a windbreak to the north of the bees. The hives set in a 
long row about six inches from this fence. Leaves are packed be- 
tween and behind the hives and a waterproof roofing is placed 
' 4 
Fie, 112.—Parts of a double-walled hive. 
